The Learned Art of Witches & Wizards
Anton and Mina Adams
Barnes & Noble Books
Nonfiction, Magic
Themes: Occult, Wizards
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Description
Perhaps no belief system on earth has as varied and muddied a history as witchcraft. Varied, as the term covers similar ideas from all over the world. Muddied, as millennia of persecution and lies have led to a distorted and often downright inaccurate public opinion of witches and wizards. This book tries to set the record straight, with an overview of the practice of witchcraft, historic cultures and noteworthy figures, and modern-day rituals and rites of this much-maligned belief system.
Review
Though this book contains plenty of information, much of it is vague. I wanted more detailed discussions of some of the subjects, incidents, and people mentioned. Still, it is a decent sourcebook for the true history - or as true as can be known - on the many belief systems classified as witchcraft. Aspiring witches or wizards, curious outsiders, or those who (like me) intend to use a similar magic/worship system in future writing attempts might find something of value here. I just wish the authors had gone into more depth on several points mentioned.